Economy Societas Europaea (SE) : the EU-wide companies

[Maciamo]

On 11th September 2005, Allianz (a German insurance company) became the first major company to adopt the status Societas Europaea (SE), a company registered for not just the EU, but the 28 countries of the European Economic Area (EEA) at once, rather than in one particular country.

The Economist explains that some big European companies could move their HQ to places like Luxembourg in order to pay less taxes (the way US companies choose Delaware for theirs).

The Economist : Pan-European companies

 

[Duo]

I like the fact that it incorporates not only EU nations but others as well that operate in the same economic area, this way integration for future members is helped... the issues of taxes can be seen from different perspectives depending which side we want to benefit...

 

[Maciamo]

Well, the 3 other countries are Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway (not even Switzerland), so we could say near-EU countries. Norway and Iceland are also Schengen members, so in a way more EU-integrated that the 10 new members or the UK.